Chapter 655 (1/2)

“Would you like to sit by the window?”

Yuna nodded at the waitress who smiled at her. She scraped the soles of her shoes on the mat before walking inside. Was this place always this wide? - Yuna thought as she followed the waitress. Family restaurants were familiar to Yuna since her mother had taken her to such places a lot. When Bitna had a tight schedule she would always drive the two of them to a nearby restaurant to get their meals, and this place was one of them. Both the interior as well as the employees were familiar to her, but for some reason, they felt rather unfamiliar today. Perhaps it was because she was the one leading someone in to eat rather than following her mother inside?

They sat by the window from which they could see Suwon station. Buses that left Suwon station were lined up in a long trail, and there were people moving next to that line of buses. This was a busy time when employees going home intermixed with people seeking out entertainment.

“I’m going to eat something expensive, okay?” Maru said as he sat down.

He was tensing his eyes. Yuna opened the menu and pushed it towards Maru.

“Sure.”

“I’m not holding back, okay?”

“Yes.”

“Then I’ll go with this one.”

Maru pointed at the corner of the menu with his index finger. The word ‘special discount’ could be seen. Chicken steak, the price was 9,900 won. It also said in red that the price did not include drinks.

“Seonbae, you can eat something more expensive, you know?”

“In that case, I’ll get something expensive and pay for it myself.”

“No, I said I’ll treat you.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t like being treated without reason. I think 9,900 won is enough for listening to your story last time.”

Although he was saying that softly, persistence could be felt from his words. Yuna looked at the menu again. The words ‘special discount’ and ‘does not include drinks’ couldn’t be more bothersome right now. Maru was being polite, and she knew that it was for her sake, but she didn’t like that for some reason. Yuna fell into thought as she looked at the menu. Why did she feel upset about it?

“Are you uncomfortable with me, seonbae-nim?”

“I’m not exactly uncomfortable with you, but nor am I comfortable. This is only the second time we’ve met.”

“That’s true. Looks like I was thinking too much even though this is our second meeting. Seonbae, I know it’s late, but do you think we should go over there now?”

Yuna pointed at the kimbap restaurant across the street. She felt a sense of distance from Maru ever since they entered this restaurant. All she wanted was to have an enjoyable meal and have a talk with him. She wasn’t planning on thinking deeply about the menu, nor did she want to look at him awkwardly like this. Yuna felt like she had become a fool. Why did she get so excited, get dressed up, and put on make-up like it was a special occasion? Why did she bring seonbae to a restaurant like this?

All she wanted to do was have a talk….

“Something’s wrong after all, isn’t it?”

“Eh?”

“I was rather confused when you said you wanted to meet me at this hour. Bitna mentioned when we met that you seem to want to see me.”

“Then the reason you called me was….”

“I didn’t plan on saying that if possible, but I think that’s the least of your problems right now. You still have some worries left, don’t you? I’m not sure if I can be of help, but I can listen. They say just spilling out what you have pent up inside you will make you calm down. So there’s no need to force yourself to buy me something expensive. In fact, it might be better if we have a quiet talk in a café or something. Don’t feel too much pressure. I have plenty of time to listen to you.”

The moment she heard his words, Yuna realized the identity of the sense of distance and unfamiliarity she was feeling since a while ago. Maru wasn’t here to get a meal from her. He was here to listen to her worries. She was here to have an enjoyable talk, while Maru came here with the mind of a consultant. Naturally, there would be differences in their attitude towards this meeting. She now understood how she was portrayed when she suggested to Maru that they eat something more expensive. The way she talked about meaningless trivial talk while picking the menu might have been portrayed to Maru as her being hesitant to talk about her worries. Perhaps that was why Maru was being direct - don’t beat around the bush and say what you really want.

“Seonbae.”

“Yeah?”

“I don’t have any worries at all.”

Her voice didn’t contain any energy. She could see Maru’s expression coloring with confusion in front of her. Then why did you call me out at this hour? - his eyes seemed to be asking.

“I just, wanted to treat you to dinner…,” she spoke slowly.

This meal had no meaning to Maru. Perhaps the reason he said they should eat light while pointing at the kimbap restaurant was also his way of indicating that they should finish the side event that was having a meal quickly and start talking about her worries as soon as possible. Thinking back, perhaps it was natural that he misunderstood. When he said that he was in Seoul, she reflexively said that she would go there. She even said that it only took an hour by train and that she definitely wanted to go. ‘Just having a meal’ was definitely something strange to do for a meeting at 10 in the evening and without any prior appointments made beforehand. Like what he said, this was only their second time meeting after all.